December 10, 2009 8:50 am

(This is a periodic update of Washington folks serving across the armed forces. If you’d like to add any news — new training, a deployment, a retirement, etc. — email me at scott.fontaine@thenewstribune.com.)

Adm. Eric T. Olson, a Tacoma native commanding U.S. Special Operations Command, recently inherited the title of “Bull Frog,” given to the sailor with the greatest amount of service following SEAL training.

Olson, a 1973 graduate of the Naval Academy, gained the title after the retirement of SEAL Capt. Pete Wikul. As a four-star admiral, Olson is the highest ranking SEAL to earn the Bull Frog title.

Marine Cpl. Timothy Lewis of Fall City just graduated from Marine Security Guard school and is now stationed in Brussels. The Marines of Marine Corps Embassy Security Group are tasked with guarding American embassies and consulates abroad.

The 4-9 Infantry's Field Trains Command Post in Baghdad

Army Capt. Bud Corbin is leading the field trains command post for Fort Lewis’ 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment — a unit of 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. The soldiers “are working all day and night” at Victory Base Complex in Baghdad to make sure the battalion is well-equipped, their commander said.

National Guard Pvt. Aaron Kim of Tacoma graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga. Kim is a 2009 graduate of Washington High School in Parkland.

James W. Goodgion of Kent graduated from the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps Leader Development and Assessment Course at Fort Lewis. Goodgion, a 2006 graduate of Kentlake High School, is a student at Missouri State University.

Army Pvt. Jason A. Dudley of Covington graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Ga. Dudley is a 2009 graduate of Tahoma High School.

Air Force Reserve Airman 1st Class Afsheen C. Saatchi of Tacoma graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Saatchi earned distinction as an honor graduate. Saatchi graduated in 2000 from Life Christian Academy in Tacoma and received an associate degree in 2004 from Pierce College.Army Pvt. Nathan J. Musgrove of Puyallup graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Sill, Okla. He is a 2000 graduate of Puyallup High School.

Airman 1st Class Peter J. Logar Jr. of Covington graduated from the Air Traffic Control Operations Apprentice Course at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. The course is designed to train students to control enroute and terminal air traffic by use of visual, radar, and non-radar means at air traffic control tower facilities. Logar is a 2006 graduate of Kentwood High School.

Amy R. Livingston graduated from the Army ROTC Leader Development and Assessment Course at Fort Lewis. The Lacey native is a student at the University of Oregon.

Army Reserve Pvt. Nathan L. Brown of Lacey graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Sill, Okla. Brown is a 2008 graduate of North Thurston High School.

Army Reserve Pvt. Robert N. Hase of Spanaway graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Sill, Okla. Hase is a 2004 graduate of Bethel High School.

Airman Hollis L. Howell III of Lacey graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Howell is a 2006 graduate of River Ridge High School.

Army Pvt. Eric E. Parker of Spanaway graduated from One Station Unit Training (OSUT) at Fort Knox, Ky., which included basic combat training and advanced individual training. The private is a 2002 graduate of Bethel High School, Graham, Wash.

Airman Stephen A. Buesing of Spanaway graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Buesing is a 2009 graduate of Spanaway Lake High School.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Scott A. Davidson of SeaTac participated in the Air Mobility Rodeo 2009 at McChord Air Force Base as a member of the 62nd Airlift Wing team. Davidson is a C-17 aircraft flying crew chief with 10 years of military service. The sergeant is a 1998 graduate of Tyee High School in SeaTac.

Airman Kyle A. Almeida of Tacoma graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Almeida is a 2006 graduate of Curtis High School, University Place, Wash.

Airman David N. Olson of Parkland graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Olson is a 2004 graduate of Washington High School.

Airman Nathan G. Murphy of Lakewood graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Murphy is a 2006 graduate of Lakes High School, Lakewood.

Airman Anthony W. Schultz of Bonney Lake graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Schultz is a 2008 graduate of Bonney Lake High School.

Airman Charles Denison of Orting graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Denison is a 2009 graduate of Orting High School.

Airman Acacia S. Wilkins of Steilacoom graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Wilkins is a 2006 graduate of Steilacoom High School, Wash.

Army Pfc. Joseph R. Macri of Puyallup graduated from the Direct Fire Infantryman One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Ga. The training consists of Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training. Macri is a 2004 graduate of Rogers High School, Puyallup, Wash.

Manuel C. Vandermolen of Puyallup graduated from the Army ROTC Leader’s Training Course at Fort Knox, Ky. The four-week course is a leadership internship for cadets that can lead to the ultimate goal of becoming an Army officer. The cadet is a 2009 graduate of Governor John R. Rogers High School, Puyallup.

Jerry T. Duong of University Place graduated from the Army Training Course at Fort Knox, Ky. The four-week course is a leadership internship for cadets that can lead to the ultimate goal of becoming an Army officer. Duong is a student at Pacific Lutheran University.

William Sheridan of Steilacoom graduated from the Army ROTC Leader Development and Assessment Course at Fort Lewis. Sheridan is a student at Seattle University.

Shayne A. Smith of Lacey graduated from the Army ROTC Leader Development and Assessment Course at Fort Lewis. Smith is a student at Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Wash.

Robyn E.M. Moore of Lacey graduated from the Army ROTC Leader’s Training Course at Fort Knox, Ky. Moore is a student at New Mexico State University.

Brian T. Kitahara of Olympia graduated from the Army ROTC Leader Development and Assessment Course at Fort Lewis. Kitahara is a student at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

Airman 1st Class Matthew J. Flores graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Flores earned distinction as an honor graduate. He is a 2008 graduate of Spanaway Lake High School, Wash.

Jorshua M. Melo of Lakewood graduated from the Army ROTC Leader Development and Assessment Course at Fort Lewis. Melo is a student at the Pacific Lutheran University. He is a 2003 graduate of Lakes High School and received an associate degree in 2006 from Pierce College.

Daniel C. Miller of Lakewood graduated from the Army ROTC Leader Development and Assessment Course at Fort Lewis. Miller is a student at Pacific Lutheran University.

Victor M. McKenzie graduated from the Army ROTC Leader Development and Assessment Course at Fort Lewis. McKenzie, a 2005 graduate of Sumner High School, is a student at Central Washington University.

Christopher Y. Chung of University Place graduated from the Army ROTC Leader Development and Assessment Course at Fort Lewis. Chung is a student at the University of Washington.

Airman Audrey L. Poland graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Poland is a 2006 graduate of Tumwater High School, Wash.

Airman Christopher W. Schatz of Lakewood graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Schatz is a 2007 graduate of Lakes High School.

Jereme D. Manning of Olympia graduated from the Army ROTC Leader Development and Assessment Course at Fort Lewis. Manning is a 2006 graduate of Washington State University.

Shawn W. Roberson graduated from the Army ROTC Leader Development and Assessment Course at Fort Lewis. Roberson is a student at Pacific Lutheran University.

Philip S. Figuerres of Olympia graduated from the Army ROTC Leader Development and Assessment Course at Fort Lewis. Figuerres is a student at Eastern Washington University.

Seaman Banker A. Arndt of Auburn recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. Arndt is a 2008 graduate of Auburn High School of Auburn, Wash.

Dante N. Leach of Lacey graduated from the Army Leader Development and Assessment Course at Fort Lewis. Leach is a student at Pacific Lutheran University.

Kyle J. Selig of Lakewood graduated from the Army ROTC Leader Development and Assessment Course at Fort Lewis. Selig is a student at Pacific Lutheran University. He is a 2007 graduate of Clover Park High School in Lakewood, and received an associate degree in 2008 from Pierce College.

Ronald H. Austin of University Place has graduated from the Army ROTC Leader’s Training Course at Fort Knox, Ky. Austin is a student at Central Washington University, Ellensburg.

Hans P. Gertje of Olympia has graduated from the Army ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) Leader’s Training Course at Fort Knox, Ky. Gertje is a student at Washington State University, Pullman. He is a 2007 graduate of Black Hills High School in Olympia.

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